COTABATO CITY — Religious leaders convened in a two-day inter-faith dialogue that started on January 19 to 20, 2021 at Em Manor Hotel and Convention Center, Cotabato City, BARMM.
Participants were Muslims, Christians, and indigenous people’s faith-based leaders coming from the different areas of BARMM. This event is part of the 2nd Bangsamoro Foundation Day celebration and spearheaded by the Ministry of Public Order and Safety (MPOS).
“No religion has the right to incite hatred, violence, extremism and definitely it should not inflame war.” MPOS Minister Hon. Hussein P. Muñoz said in his opening message.
Chief Minister Ebrahim Ahod also gave his message thru a recorded video. “Being one of the most diverse communities in the archipelago, Bangsamoro is home to multiple ethnolinguistic groups, faith-based communities and other varieties of identification which we tend to ascribed to.
Today is an opportunity to discuss religion on how it binds us as a people and how can we take a lesson or two as we write the next chapter of the Bangsamoro.” he said.
Today is an opportunity to discuss religion on how it binds us as a people and how can we take a lesson or two as we write the next chapter of the Bangsamoro.” he said.MP Atty. Hamid Amminodin Barra, Fr. Clifford Baira and Timuay Johnny Mokudef representing Muslim, Christians, and Teduray respectively shared their inputs on Religious Diversity in BARMM. Prof. Tirmizy Abdullah gave a lecture about Building a Culture of Peace.
MP Susana Anayatin a well-known advocate of inter-faith co-existence in the Bangsamoro gave her message of support in the event. She said, “Ang BARMM ay tahanan ng iba’t ibang kultura, tribu na tinatawag na tri-people. Sa pamamagitan ng diyalogo, nagbabahaginan ang mga nag-uusap kung ano ang mga bagay na mahalaga at magbibigay daan sa pagkilala at paggalang sa iba’t ibang relihiyon at kultura maging ano man ang tribung pinagmulan.”
One of the outputs of the event is a Declaration of Unity of the participants. This enumerates the commitment of the faith-based leaders, such as, valuing religious tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and support for the extension of the transition period. Further, the document also speaks of the need for continuous dialogue and cooperation in order to establish solidarity, harmonious relationship and respect between and among faith-based leaders.
The program ended with the messages of unity delivered by Prof. Moner Bajunaid, Prof. Edgardo Ramirez and Rebecca L. Mokudef.
